Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra are the first smartwatches to receive Google’s latest operating system, Wear OS 5, according to announcements made at today’s Unpacked event. This news comes alongside the unveiling of new products, which also coincides with the reveal of the company’s latest innovations.
This marks a significant milestone, as Samsung’s devices will be the first to access Wear OS 5, even before Google’s own products. However, this is not a new trend, as Wear OS 4 was first introduced on the Galaxy Watch 6 before being included with the Pixel Watch 2.
At the Google I/O 2024 event, the company officially launched Wear OS 5, which boasts several useful updates. The user interface remains largely unchanged from Wear OS 4, but the software has been optimized to improve battery life by up to 30 percent. New health monitoring features include the analysis of stride length when walking or running.
Wear OS 5 also includes efficiency upgrades, with Google claiming that it uses 20 percent less power compared to Wear OS 4. Additionally, the operating system offers more watch face options and other enhancements. While this software update may not revolutionize the smartwatch experience, the improved efficiency is sure to be a welcome feature for many consumers.
It remains unclear when Wear OS 5 will be ported to Samsung’s older smartwatches. For now, users must purchase the Galaxy Watch 7 or Watch Ultra, priced at $300 and $650 respectively, to access the new operating system.
